About

Who are The Cadets?

The Cadets, a program of Youth Education in the Arts, is one of the oldest and most honored continuously operating drum and bugle corps with members from all over the country and world.

The corps was founded in Garfield, N.J. as the Holy Name Cadets in 1934 and has won 10 American Legion National Championships and 10 Drum Corps International World Championships.

The Cadets will travel over 14,000 miles this summer entertaining hundreds of thousands of drum corps fans throughout the nation.

Interested in Joining?

The Cadets are looking for talented young men and women to be a part of the 2018 season. If you're interested, click here to register now, or contact us at .

What is a drum and bugle corps?

Modern drum corps are comprised of 150 performers who range in age from about 14 to 22. Each corps is made up of brass musicians, percussionists and a colorguard. They perform an 11-minute program on a standard football field. Programs are extravaganzas of musical excellence, marching precision, color, drama, dance and emotion. All members of the corps (except the front percussion ensemble) march in intricate formations which are coordinated with the musical productions.

Brass musicians in The Cadets play on the same top-quality Yamaha instruments available to artists, amateurs and students all over the world, including trumpets, mellophones, baritones, euphoniums and tubas.

The colorguard adds color and drama through the coordinated use of flags, rifles, sabers and dance. The modern colorguard is as much a dance ensemble and storyteller as it is a precision marching unit.

What are the benefits to the performers?

Drum corps is an activity which attempts to do much more than provide a performance opportunity for students or entertainment for the audience. Through the drum corps experience, students will learn useful life skills such as leadership, goal-setting and teamwork, among others. The Cadets curriculum includes opportunities for students to exercise their potential not only as musicians, but as complete human beings.

How can I learn more?

Start by attending a drum corps competition in your area! Click here for Summer 2017 event information in the Northeast, or here to find out about DCI's Premier Events in San Antonio, Atlanta, Allentown (Pa.) and Indianapolis.